Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Friday, 28 June 2013

BBC News

• Edinburgh trams: Tax break hopes for project Edinburgh City Council is hoping for a tax break to turn a profit from its tram project.
• How big are the government's infrastructure plans? That is the message the government would like to convey as it details how a third of the £310bn of investments scheduled in the National Infrastructure Plan will be allocated during the 2015-20 parliament.
• Explosive 'threat' to airport plansWhat could affect Thames Estuary airport plans
• Cyclist road deaths up 10% in 2012The overall number of deaths on roads is the lowest since records began, but deaths among cyclists are up by 10% which could be due to more people using bicycles in London.

Financial Times

• Rolls-Royce admits faults in Qantas blastBritish manufacturer concedes its safety procedures ‘clearly fell short’ following a report from Australia’s regulator into 2010 in-flight explosion
• Roads and railways earn top billingDanny Alexander said more than £28bn of funding would be spent in the next parliament on he road network, with trains receiving £30bn of investment

The Guardian

• Danny Alexander's infrastructure statement: the reaction What do the announcements by Danny Alexander mean for transport, housing and broadband sectors?
• UK road deaths at record low but cyclist casualties rise Campaigners call for action after eighth straight rise in serious injuries among cyclists, while overall road deaths fall 8%
• Roads get £28bn spending boost The coalition has promised "the biggest spending on roads since the 1970s", with £28bn earmarked for enhancement and maintenance, including a £6bn pothole fund.
• Siemens Thameslink trains contract confirmedBombardier factory snubbed in favour of Germany company for 1,140 new train carriages, a project already three years behind schedule
• Our state railways One point which has been missed in your letters on rail privatisation (27 June) is how taxpayers' money flows to state coffers in Germany, Netherlands and France.

The Herald

• Cross-party support for cyclist protectionA CAMPAIGN for strict liability for Scotland's cyclists has secured cross-party support in the wake of statistics showing a five-year high in cycling casualties.
• Call to explain £500m extra cost of transport projectsThe Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government is being called on to explain a £500 million difference in the reported cost of five key transport projects.

The Independent

• Spending Review: The five-year plan for infrastructure with shaky foundations Ministers have said they will spend £100bn on projects – but how much of that is new?

The Telegraph

• Infrastructure spending: Danny Alexander announces 'most comprehensive investment plan'Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander hails the Government's spending plans on infrastructure as

Mail Online

• Tory anger over HS2, the £42bn 'boys' toy': MPs vow to continue fight against new rail line, 'the biggest white elephant in history'Ministers were dealt a blow when 37 MPs – including many Conservatives – voted against the proposed railway.

Network Rail

• Youngsters warned rail trespass could prove deadly mistake

Belfast Telegraph

• Trankslink gets £7m bailout, pushes up fares...and posts massive 65% profit riseFury has greeted the news that Translink has almost doubled its pre-tax profits just months after it imposed fare rises.
• Bombardier jet launch delayed by upgrades to softwareA NEW plane, the wings of which were built in Belfast, has had its first take-off date delayed for a month.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• £300,000 car-share lane to be scrapped A controversial car-share lane on a key Bradford road has been ditched after failing to deliver cuts in congestion.

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post published Above all we need to end the deadlock with First BusArticle

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Hope for the return of cruise ships off Llandudno If the move were to go ahead then the impact on the town's tourist trade could be significant

The York Press

• Transport projects in York ‘at risk’ MAJOR transport projects in York risk being left behind through the city’s involvement in a multimillion-pound link-up with West Yorkshire councils, a councillor has claimed.
• Compensation fears over high-speed rail link A NORTH Yorkshire MP has said he will not support the Government’s bill to create a high-speed railway line through his constituency.

Blackpool Gazette

• Support growing for rail campaignMore than 2,500 people have so far signed up to The Gazette’s campaign to secure a rail link between Blackpool and London – but we still need your help.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Dedham: Vale bus venture just the ticket for green travelAn innovative bus service is set to help combat the curse of car congestion in Constable Country.
• Suffolk: Toll road puts dampeners on A14 upgrade announcementA positive reaction in Suffolk to proposals for a £1.5billion upgrade for part of the A14 has been tempered by plans to create a toll road on a section of the vital dual carriageway.
• Suffolk: Network Rail bosses dismiss fears rail line poses threat to public despite £500,000 fine after level crossing investigationRail bosses have quashed fears a major Suffolk line is unsafe after Network Rail were fined £500,000.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Cyclists riding on Spalding pavements targeted in Operation OatmealThursday, 12.35pm: Fixed penalty notices totalling £1,770 have been issued by police as part of an ongoing road safety operation in Spalding.

Sleaford Standard

• Link road plans for Sleaford will NOT go through the bowls clubA newly published report from a traffic survey which analyses in detail the impact of the planned link road from Mareham Lane to Boston Road in Sleaford will have to be amended due to an error in the text.    

Other Regional Press

• MP urges Government to “hurry up” and build HS2A Northampton MP has urged the Government to “hurry up” the process of building the new High Speed Rail line to help the “long suffering passengers” in the town.

Campaign for Better Transport

• New road plans from the Treasury are a colossal transport policy error 27 June 2013: Widespread road-building plans announced today by the Government will blight the country for generations to come. read more

Construction Enquirer

• Government to support £30bn of railway investment The Government has outlined plans to support £30bn of investment in the railways in the period 2014 to 2020.

Global Rail News

• Councillors confident about Edinburgh tram figuresEdinburgh councillors are adamant that the city’s new tram network will turn a £5 million profit over its first 15 years in operation. The authority has said that it expects[...]
• India’s longest rail tunnel opensIndia’s longest rail tunnel has been officially opened by the country’s prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. The 11.2km Pir Panjal Tunnel, which has been built by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC),[...]
• DB and Etihad Rail sign freight operations agreementDeutsche Bahn (DB) and Etihad Rail have establishes a new partnership to run freight services in the Arabian Peninsula. Etihad Rail DB Operations LLC will be responsible for running freight[...]
• Thameslink train order confirmedSiemens has confirmed a £1.6 billion order with the British government for 1,140 Thameslink Desiro City carriages. The announcement follows two years of uncertainty for Siemens who have been waiting[...]
• Rail teams complete gruelling Three Peaks ChallengeTeams from across the rail industry have climbed the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in 24 hours as part of the Three Peaks by Rail Challenge for Railway[...]

Railnews

• New budget for HS2, but bid to overturn Bill fails A new budget for building HS2 has been announced by the Transport Secretary. It now includes a contingency margin of some £14 billion, which has boosted the total to some £42 billion. The rolling stock is expected to cost a further £8 billion. Opponents to the scheme have highlighted the increase as fresh justification for abandoning it, but Patrick McLoughlin told Parliament that investment in transport would provide the infrastructure the country needs to ’compete in the global race’, with better rail links as a key component.

Aviation Industry

• AEF to take part in Airports Commission public evidence sessionsThe Airports Commission, set up to consider the case for new airport capacity in the UK, will hold two public evidence sessions to allow commissioners to question witnesses on aspects of their written evidence. AEF is to be one of twelve organisations taking part, giving evidence on 9th July in Manchester as part of a [...]
• EC probes state aid for SAS Scandinavian Airlines The European Commission (EC) has begun an investigation into what it believes is illegal state aid to SAS Scandinavian Airlines. read more
• Bankia sells its 12% stake in IAGSpanish bank Bankia has sold its 12.09% shareholding in International Airlines Group (IAG) for €675 million ($881 million). read more
• British Airways takes delivery of first Boeing 787 British Airways has taken delivery of its first of 42 Boeing 787s. read more
• Senate unanimously confirms Foxx as transportation secretaryThe US Senate has unanimously confirmed Charlotte, N.C. mayor Anthony Foxx as the next US transportation secretary. read more
• Final Qantas A380 engine failure report blames faulty Rolls-Royce oil pipe Rolls-Royce has admitted it “clearly fell short” after the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) concluded that a fatigue crack in an incorrectly manufactured oil feed pipe caused a Qantas Airbus A380 engine failure. read more
• Qatar Airways to use superjumbo on Heathrow routeCarrier will also fly Airbus A380 on route to Paris from next year
• Corporate travel recovery ‘slow but steady’HRG report on airfares shows move away from business class travel

Other News Sources

• MPs fail to derail HS2 projectAttempt to block high-speed rail line is defeated in Parliament